The Correlation between Serum Concentration of Vitamin D with Vitamin D Receptor Expression and Disease Activity in Indonesian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Preliminary Study

摘要

The vitamin D role on the immune response of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient is mediated by vitamin D receptor (VDR). Low level of vitamin D correlated with disease activity in SLE patients, and circulating levels of activated vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) contribute to VDR protein levels and its function. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between vitamin D status with expression of VDR in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and the disease activity in SLE patients . The Research Subjects were 15 SLE patients (ACR 1997 criteria) from the Rheumato-Immunology Division, dr. Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang and 5 healthy controls. Serum vitamin D (25(OH)D3) level was assessed using ELISA method. VDR expression in PBMC was assessed using immunocytochemistry technique. The disease activity was measured by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI ) score. This study showed no difference on VDR expression in PBMC between patient and healthy control group, but patient with vitamin D deficiency had lower VDR expression in PBMC than the other group. No difference on SLEDAI score between the group. Vitamin D status correlated positively with VDR expression in PBMC (p 035, r = 0,473). However vitamin D status did not correlate with disease activity scores (p = 0,686) .